RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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NAPALM DEATH – Utilitarian
My first experience with this UK grind core act was back in 1990, during the surfacing of their third album “Harmony Corruption”. A few years later I would take in a live show on the “Diatribes” tour, but it’s been a while since I’ve experienced a full length studio offering from Barney Greenway and the…
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WOLFEN – Chapter IV
15 years in existence, a series of demos and three full lengths- Wolfen hail from Cologne, Germany and “Chapter IV” is their first studio album in six years. So it’s understandable that the foursome desire to give the listeners as much music as possible- delivering 12 songs with a running time of just over 67…
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IRON FIRE – Voyage Of The Damned
The seventh album from the Danish power metal quartet Iron Fire continues their renewed sense of productivity, being their fifth studio album of the last seven years. Vocalist Martin Steene may have struggled through the years with consistent lineup changes, but his resolve to keep the quality of Iron Fire’s writing, recording and final product…
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RUNNING WILD – Shadowmaker
Who thought Rolf Kasparek would really retire Running Wild to the wasteland following their Wacken 2009 final show? Creative inspiration and idle time to think things through usually encourage musicians to pick up their instruments, let the riffs and songs flow and eventually recruit a new lineup to solider forward. “Shadowmaker” is the fourteenth and…
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RAM – Death
Another of the newer Swedish traditional/power metal brigade, Gothenburg’s RAM unleash their third full length but first with their newest label Metal Blade, which should hopefully improve their standing within the scene. Musically “Death” resonates with the early to mid 80’s scene, as much of the guitar harmonies, interplay and shuffling tempos in the rhythm…
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ALLEGAEON – Formshifter
Can lightning strike twice for Colorado’s Allegaeon? Their 2010 “Fragments of Form and Function” debut album astounded with its twin guitar harmonics and musicality amidst the blend of intense, Scar Symmetry-ish death style on display. To not lose fan interest, the second record “Formshifter” hits the streets fairly quickly, which could be a positive or…
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DEMON LUNG – Pareidolia
Las Vegas may be best known for its top flight entertainment and high rolling, gambling atmosphere- but the quartet Demon Lung call this city home and want to be the number one option for doom metallers based on this four song “Pareidolia” EP. The slower note bends, low tuning and intense vocals of despair give…
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MOONSPELL – Alpha Noir
Portugal’s biggest export to the dark/ gothic/ underground metal community is probably Moonspell. Their sound and style never stagnate- pushing the boundaries within their own songwriting and probably challenging their long standing followers in terms of what they expect out of this band. Having the good fortune to follow Moonspell from their more intense, black…
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FANTRASH – Duality of Things
Polish thrash with occasional nods to some industrial influences on this debut album “Duality Of Things”. Originating in March of 1986 by then 18 year old guitarist Grezegorz Obroslak, bassist Mariusz Ostep and vocalist Less remain from those early days. The first incarnation of Fanthrash recorded a series of studio and live demos plus performed…
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HOLY MOSES – 30TH Anniversary – In The Power Of Now
Vocalist Sabina Classen has been the ‘female voice from hell’ since late 1981 with the German thrashers Holy Moses- and with her 30 years now running with this act, it’s fitting to pay tribute to the historical side with this 22 song, double CD offering. 2 new songs “Borderland” and “Enter The Now” sit beside…
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69 CHAMBERS – Torque
Second album from this Swiss trio 69 Chambers who have shuffled around certain musical duties but not lost any potency in their heavier post-modern meets alternative metal style. Vocalist Nina Treml takes over on bass, as Coroner guitarist Tommy Vetterli decided to tackle both production and six string tasks while Diego Rapacchietti pounds the drum…
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HAVOK – Point of no Return (EP)
The life of a young thrash band like Colorado’s Havok circa 2012 appears to be travelling as much as you can, promoting your songs in front of any and all live metal audiences you can. “Point Of No Return” is a 4 song EP consisting of two new tracks plus covers of Sepultura and Slayer…
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HERRATIK – Compromise Gone
‘Compromise Gone’ is the second full-length foray from Australian act Herratik. The music is a catchy blend of thrash and death metal with more than a few memorable riffs, some strong musicianship and an excellent, modern production. Unfortunately, after half a dozen listens this album has failed to make a really lasting impression on me.…
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H.E.A.T – Address The Nation
Bringing the glorious melodic rock of the 80’s into modern times, Sweden’s H.E.A.T lost singer Kenny Leckremo in 2010 following their second album “Freedom Rock”. Quickly picking up Erik Gronwall in August of that same year, the former Swedish Idol winner lost no momentum in front of live audiences and soon the test of singing…
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FUELED BY FIRE – Plunging Into Darkness
This sophomore outing for thrashers Fueled By Fire brings an arguably more focussed package than 2007’s ‘Spread the Fire’. As retro-oriented thrash albums go, this is a pretty authentic offering. The chops and beats bring that classic Bay Area sound to mind and there are almost no modern references to break the spell. In terms…
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CRAZY LIXX – Riot Avenue
This third album from Sweden’s Crazy Lixx appears to contain 11 songs with a leaner, rawer approach than 2010’s “New Religion” effort. Self-produced and featuring three main members (Danny Dixon-vocals, Andy Dawson and Edd Liam on guitars) plus the studio rhythm section of Loke Rivano on bass and Joel Cirera on drums, “Riot Avenue” has…
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FATAL FORCE – Unholy Rites
Guitarist Torben Enevoldsen certainly has a lot of music within his mind to put out to the world. Instrumental solo albums as well as band offerings with progressive metal’s Section A, the melodic metallers Decoy, and this melodic hard rock oriented act Fatal Force. The first self-titled album released in 2006 featured Mats Leven (ex-Yngwie,…
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ANGEL WITCH – As Above, So Below
One of the most infamous NWOBHM albums that fans and critics love but never achieved proper sales numbers would be the 1980 self-titled debut from Angel Witch. Songs like “White Witch” and “Gorgon” have this evil edge matching up with occult lyrics and searing riffs that would live in your brain forever. Kevin Heybourne struggled…
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HUNTRESS – Spell Eater
California traditional metal quintet Huntress may possess one of the more charismatic, evil female singers in the business with Jill Janus. Her opera touring as a teenager gives their debut album “Spell Eater” a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde persona- with some songs soaring to the heavens and others possessing this twisted scream charm as…
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LAST KINGDOM – Chronicles Of The North
Swedish power metal sextet with a firm grasp of all the conventional elements necessary to appeal to the deepest of fans on their debut album “Chronicles Of The North”. Hammerfall-like guitar runs, flowery keyboards in the Sonata Arctica vein, larger than life choirs for the vocal harmonies and choruses, a drummer reliant on the pumping…
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HEMINA – Synthetic
Ever since hearing my first strains of Rush back in the early 1980’s, I’ve been following progressive rock and metal incessantly. What once seemed relegated to North America and the UK quickly spread to all four corners of the globe- and a hotspot for progressive metal over the past few years is Australia. Vanishing Point,…
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ZERO DEGREE – Surreal World
A six piece melodic death metal band from Germany, employing three guitarists allows Zero Degree a chance to still lay down addictive rhythms beneath their twin harmonic lead escapades. Their debut album “Surreal World” contains 10 songs that live and breathe from the roots of the movement. The production values are primitive and reminiscent of…
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DONNIE VIE – Wrapped Around My Middle Finger
The voice of Enuff Z’nuff returns with a solo album of more psychedelic Beatles influenced soft and hard rock on this 11 song effort. Those who miss his shimmering melodies and attention to connecting with an audience through simplified hooks will love winning material like “Now Ya Know” or the lighter, easy listening sound of…
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ZEROKING – Kings of Self-Destruction
Hailing from Huntington, West Virginia, this four piece Zeroking have a 13 song album in “Kings Of Self-Destruction” that has one foot in the modern hard rock landscape and another straight from the streets of the late 80’s. Vocalist Andy Haught captivates with a strong, clean delivery accented with the occasional well placed scream- most…
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HALLOWEEN – Terrortory
Detroit’s traditional horror metal act Halloween still slug it out in their own self-defined way with this new album “Terrortory”. Vocalist Brian Thomas and bassist George Neal have been around since their 1983 formation, with the current lineup including drummer Rob Brug and guitarists Don Guerrier and Donny Allen. Amidst re-releases by distributor Pure Steel…
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MESHUGGAH – Koloss
Djent metal, math metal- two terms synonymous with this Swedish act, especially since their “None” EP release back in 1994 which followed their more thrash oriented debut album of 1991”Contradictions Collapse”. Through the years the group continues to challenge themselves and their fans- experimenting with quieter sounds, electronic programming elements and harsher tones, while still…